Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a question on page 9-20. In the Early Childhood Program, we see a decrease of $188,000. I am told that the reason for this decrease is because of a lack of uptake, which is kind of

hard to understand because childcare spaces are very high in demand. For me, I went through a situation in the last Assembly where we were seeing the closure of day cares and places. I know the Minister would argue that was for a different reason, but it's hard to understand why this can happen. So could I ask the Minister why it is that we have this kind of situation? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Actually, this isn't a reduction as a result of the decreased uptake for the funding. We were actually seeing an increase in pressure on the program for core funding because of new day homes and so on. What this is, is it's a $188,000 planned reduction in language nest funding. When the program for language nests was introduced over the three-year business plan, this amount, or what is left in the budget this year, is the amount that was projected in the first year that we proposed it. So this is a reduction in that budget. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Minister Dent. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That's good because it's not a lack of uptake of day care centres and such. I am not sure if I understand the Minister's answers about the Language Nest Program. I understand that's a program that is high in demand, as well. I have to be careful when we agree to cut like this in this House and we usually get told by officials or Ministers -- I don't want to attribute it to anybody -- but we usually get information saying it's because there is not enough uptake. Then we put it through and then, as soon as we get out of this chamber, we start hearing from people saying what do you mean you are cutting this because there is no uptake? There is a lot of demand out there. Could I get more information about if there has not been enough uptake to the extent that we need to cut it, what has the department done to see if we know why the money is not being taken up? Are there gaps in the way the program is being delivered? Can he give us anything? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When we came forward with this proposal, it was on a three-year basis. We went in and asked for money over a three-year basis to put into language nests. The money was approved by FMB and was to be presented to the committee on that basis. It was a three-year funding process. So, in fact, I have to go back now and justify all of the money for the program and justify the money in the next business plan process. I am quite comfortable that we have seen these programs be a tremendous success.

We will be submitting a proposal that we continue to fund the language nest programs at an increase, if possible. The funding, though, was shown as reducing over the three-year period because we had initially said the expectation said these programs would become more self-sufficient as time went on. The first year of the funding was substantially higher because of training needs and the requirements for setting the programs up. The second year, the funding was reduced somewhat and again in the third year, the funding was reduced somewhat. I am not sure that we have seen the self-sufficiency grow in the community programs that we had thought when we, three years ago, proposed this program might see. I guess that was based on what had been seen in other jurisdictions. Be that as it may, we know that the programs are being successful. The assessments have turned out to be extremely positive, so I will be going forward in the next business plan with a request for increased funding.

Thank you, Minister Dent. Ms. Lee.

Okay, Mr. Chairman, he hasn't given any reason as to why we are cutting this. Is he cutting this because he needed something to cut and this is the one that is getting the axe? Let me ask him, what has been the...(inaudible)...to this program? Did we spend all of the $2.2 million that was allocated?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There has been no cut to this program from what was proposed three years ago when we proposed the funding. The funding was always shown in this way as rolling off somewhat. One of the reasons would be that, obviously, the amount that would be needed for training should reduce over time and so that is where it is expected. This year, the programs that are operating will need to spend less money on training and that should allow us to accommodate the same number of programs.

Thank you, Minister Dent. Ms. Lee.

Thank you. Okay, I get it. He is saying that it was approved for three years and this is the end of the year and we could possibly see this continue next year. Is that the similar situation with the healthy children initiative, which might suggest that it might be a good time for us to do the review that we said we were going to do in committee? I think I can understand the Early Childhood Program section there. I hope we are not going to be cutting this. Does the Minister know if he is going to have this program next year, or are we looking at this sunsetting? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Minister Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, the healthy children initiative is a different situation. That program did run as a pilot project for a number of years. It was found to be a good program and it was then approved for base funding in the department. The language nests we proposed as a pilot project. It is base funded now, so it's part of our base funding. The healthy children's initiative, we came in and said we think this is a good idea and FMB agreed that we should take a look at it, but it was approved as a pilot project, so we were approved for funding for three years, which means that, yes, I have to go back to FMB and to the committee for the funding approval next year to continue the program. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Minister Dent. Page 9-20, 9-21, education and culture, grants and contributions, questions? Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Chair. I would just like to follow up where Mr. Pokiak left off on the education authority contribution at $120 million. The formula is based on enrollment. I guess they determine the majority of payments. I am just wondering if the department has taken into consideration the cultural programs or cultural activities and being out on the land? When September comes around, there will be a lot of students. Even the adults are in school. They will be out on the land. In our history, the Tlicho Community Services Agency has always gone out on the land with a school. That's fine. But some students go out on their own with elders and community members. They do miss school due to the fact that if they are absent from school, would they be excused because they are supporting, and reviving, and keeping our tradition alive out on the land? I think this will have repercussions in the communities, especially with the small communities. We are trying to keep our heritage alive, the cultural program. We are trying to boost it up, even encourage other schools to take that into consideration.

Even this year, I have seen in the newspaper that YK schools, the Catholic School Board and YK 1, I believe, are encouraging and supporting students to go out on the land. I was very happy to see that in Yellowknife. We are hoping to see all of the schools take those initiatives forward because they are boosting up the cultural program, even our language. During the fall time, especially the fall time, people go out on the land. The spring and Christmas, there are breaks in between. We are fully aware of the two weeks' break, but one cannot predict the migratory season and also the break-up where trapping and hunting doesn't always happen during the spring break, so students may go out after a spring break or before the spring break. Would those students be excused? If there is a cut in funding due to students being absent for the month of September or October, then it has an impact on schools' enrolment I guess, the contribution they receive from the department. If the Minister can elaborate on that. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty. Minister Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to be absolutely clear, that an excused absence doesn't count as not being present. An on-the-land trip that is arranged in concert with the school and is part of the on-the-land program would not see the kids being counted as absent. Those kinds of programs are quite acceptable. We used to do the official count for the month of October. We counted on October 30th. School boards asked us to move it to September. One of the reasons they said is that their attendance was typically better through the month of September than in October. They tend to have more dropouts as you get closer to Christmas. The department was responsive in this case in moving the timing, and excused absences are counted as presents, if you will, for the purposes of counting the attendance. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Dent. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty. Minister Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is one of the reasons that we have the local administration through the boards or, the Member's region, the Tlicho Community Services Agency. They can set up policies that would allow for an excused absence, including the reason that the Member has brought forward. That sort of flexibility is already built into the system. The agency will have to make sure that the student still gets the schooling that is required during the year, but that can be an excused absence as long as it fits within their policy. That is what we leave to the agencies, the DECs and the DEAs, to set those policies in place to make sure that can happen. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister Dent. I have Mr. Hawkins next on the list.